Member Poem

Death of the child,
death of the mother,
or the death of both beings.

These are the possibilities
that can ensue in such tense moments.
Here, in this white room,
under white fluorescent lights,
new life prepares to explode into
the world through bursts of fury.

As a family anxiously awaits
the arrival of its newest member,
the reapers linger in the shadows.
They stand ready for the potential
addition of two new seeds to
their ethereal gardens. The clock is ticking.

One last push. One last scream.
At this intersection, everyone pauses;
a resolute cry emerges
from the room. Victory and
defeat occur concurrently.

- Inspired by the poem "Childbirth" by Ted Hughes